Vehicle-wheel rim.



J. R. GAMMHTBR.k Y VEHICLE WHEEL RIM. n APPLICATION ULEB Juxn-a.9::i. "x-

y 2 3 El Gr.71.

l: 'l Gr.22

Furi,

v JOHN R. GA3-nieren, or AKRON, omo, AssiGNoR To B. P. GOODRIOH COMPANY; OFAKRON,A

y Uuirno sTATEs PATENT Ormea.

- OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

VEHICLE-WHEEL RIM.

, which the following is a specification, refer-r ence being had to the accoinpanyii'ig drawings, whch form a part thereof.

My invention relates to that class of wheel rimsv adapted for ilse with tires of resilient material, and more particularly to riinsin-V tended for use with detachable tires.

The object of my invention is to provide a rim having one or both the tire-retaining -flanges removable to enable the tire to be quickly and easily applied or removed.

A further object of my vinvention is to provide means forsecuring a tire-retaining flange in the operative )osition without employing bolts, nuts, turn-buckles or other locking devices which tend to weaken a structure of this character.

. thereto by bolts.

)referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a portion of the rim and detachable flange partially in section, illustrating the method of attaching and detachiiig the removable flange. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of a tire and rini showing the device in the locked position as applied to a tiie and rim of the cleneher type. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the device as applied to a tire of the socalled Dunlop ty ie. Fig. 4 is a side view of a felly, rim and tire embodying my improvements, a part being broken away to show the filling lug which I use to prevent the disengagement of the parts in the event of accidental deflation of the tire. Fig. 5 is a cross section along the line fcof Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross section along the line Y-Y of Fig. 4 showingr the method of attaching the retaining elip to the valve sten i Throughout the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

The rim proper or tire seating member 1 is preferably constructed of met-al and is usually shrunk on the wheel felly Yor secured The tire-retaining flange 2 in the construction which I use at present is integral with the member 1. The opposing tire 'retaining flange 3 is mounted or formed upon an endless removable ring 6. Along the edge of the tire seating member which supports this flange is an annular groove 4 of proper shape and vdimensions to permit the Speciieatonl of Letters Patent.

y )osite tire flange 2 and the form of both may 1 Application mea June 9, 190e. sei-iai No. 320,939.

flange-ring tO drop partially within it i l*The outer wall of this groove I lprefer to construct f` evel with the tirel with its uppei'edge 5 on a` seating portion of t-herim in Order to permit the tire to be easily slipped over it. flange 3 is shaped to correspond with the ope varied at will to adapt them for use witn any desired style of tire.

The inner diameter of the flange-ring 6 is 65 slightly less than the diameter of the circle formed by the upper edge 5 of the exterior wall of the groove 4. This flange-ring is inextensibie, and in order to eriuit it to bev applied or removed over tie edge of the groove 4 it should be constructed so that it is capable of distortion. The degree of distortion necessary will be found to be very slight, and consequently the ring may be made of considerable cross-section, amply sufficient to withstand any strain to whic it is'siibject. The form of the flange-ring may be varied considerably, but I prefer to groove it, as shown, so that it will seat-upon The e0 the edge of the wall 5, or to chainfer the ring so i 6 and the edge 5 to mutually correspond.

Under 'any ordinary circumstances the inflation of the tire will hold the removable flange in engagement and the structure as l heretofore described will be found satisfactory but in the event of a sudden accidental deflation of the tire as in the case of a puncture the parts may become disengaged, allowing tlie removable ring to drop off. T o

.guard againsttliis difiicultythe ordinary clips may be used but I prefer the combination of devices shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 6. I employ a single clip 7iwIiieh is mounted upon the stem of the tire-valve (Fig. 6).

T iis clip may conveniently consist of a metal plate punched to receive the valve stein and provided with two oppositely disposed proiections which are upwardly and outwardly inclined. .These rojeotions are properly sha ed and located) to seat against t sur aces of the. tire edges. Thus when the tire and retaining ring 'are in'position and the valve stem is drawn downward by means of the dust cap 8 or equivalent means the 1e inner 100 tire edge is forced outward against the retaining ring which is thus firmly held against disengagement. To provide still further protection I provide the ".filhng lug 9. lhis filling lug consists simply of a mass of metal or other suitable material lying Patented Aug. 4, 1908. l

ioI

i into position.

inward and downward into the groove.

wit-hin andl partially filling the groove forv a.

portion of its length. It may fill the entire depth of the groove with the exception of the part occupied b v the projection of the flange-ring when in the assembled position. tinust be of sufficient depth to prevent the ring 'dropping within the groove sufficiently to allow the said ring to be removed. The length of this lug may vary considerably but find it very satisfactory in )ractice to exi the periphery ofthe wheel and to locate its middle point directly opposite to the position of the valve The mode of operation of my device is as follows: To attach a tire, the retaining flange being removed, the tire is applied to the fixed portion of the rim and made to engage closely with the permanent flange. The removable ring is then forced into the groove upon one side of the rim and graduallysp'rung The tire is then inflated in the usual manner. first wholly or partly deflated. One side of the retaining flange Yis then forced inwardlyT and downwardl) 'into the groove. The opposite side of the ring will then project slightly beyond the outer wall of the groove, and by pulling upon this portion the whole ring can easily be sprung ofi from the rim, its shape being slightly distorted. The tire can thereupon be removed. v

ll'hen the valve stem clip and the filling lug are used, the tire is deflated and the valve-stein loosened by loosening the dust cap. The clip is thus forced upward sufficiently to permit the flange-ring to be forced ring is of course forced into the groove at a point near the position of the valve stem and opposite to the i'illinglug both in applying and removing it.

My device is of course, Subject to many modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention. 1 do not therefore wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of the practical embodiment which I` have described and shown but wish to cover the invention broadly as set forth in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what 1. In a vehicle wheel rim, the combination of a tire-seating member having an annular groove along one edge thereof, a tire-retaining member comprising a removable endless ring adapted to enter said groove, a filling ug lying within said groove for a. portion of To remove the tire it is Y f gaat.

its length, and means applied to said tireseating member at a point diametrically oppostte said lug f or preventing the descent otA said ring into said groove.

2. In a. vehicle wheel rim the combination 'of an endless removable tire retaining flaiwe, an annular groove along one edge of said rim and a filling lug lying within said groove for a. portion only ofits length and partially filling the same; substantiall as described.

Ina vehicle wheel rim, the combination lof a tire-seating member provided with a groove. along one edge thereof, a removable, endless, tire-retaining flange, a filling lug lving within said groove for aportion of its.

length, and a clip applied to said tire-seating member 'at a point diametrically opposite said filling lug. Y

4. In a vehicle wheel rim the combination with a tire-seating member provided with an movable flange atone point consisting of a clip mounted iilpon the stem of the tire valve and means for uniting the descentof the removable flange into the groove for a portion of its length, said means consisting of a filling lug lying wit-hin the groove.

5. In a vehicle wheel rim the combina-,tion with a grooved tire-seating member and a removable, endless tire-retaining ring ,capable of distortion and having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the-'circle formed by the edge of the outside wall of4 said groove, of discontinuous means for Inn-.

iting the descent of the removable ring into the groove, said means being located at two opposite points upon the periphery of the wheel.

6. In a Vehicle wheel rim the combination with a4 tire seating member having an annular groove along one edge thereof and a removable, endless tire-retaining ring capable of distortion and having an inner diameter less than the diameter of the circle formed by the edge of the outside wall of said groove, of means for limiting the descent of the removable ring into the groove for a portion of the peripheral length of said groove', said means consisting of a filling lugr partially llingr said groove for a portion of its length only substantially as set forth. I

JOHN R. GAMMEIER." 'itnesses:

WALTER K. MEANS, ARTHUR E. DAWSON. 

